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1944 Map of Damascus

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Damascus
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

Damascus sits at the heart of this mid-century landscape, a key crossroads connecting Montgomery, Frederick, and Howard counties. The northern reaches are defined by the Baltimore and Ohio rail line, which passes through Mount Airy and the industrial-sounding Plane No 4 near Bush Creek. This period shows a transition from a purely agricultural region toward early suburban development, while the winding Patuxent River and its tributaries like Bennett Creek and Great Seneca Creek preserve the area's natural contours.

Genealogists and local historians can trace rural settlements such as Browningsville, Etchison, and Mullinix before significant late-20th-century growth. Notable landmarks like the Annapolis Rock overlook and the protected lands of Patuxent River State Park offer a view of the terrain that remained undeveloped as surrounding communities expanded. The map also records early boundary markers where four counties meet, including the headwaters of the river at Parrs Spring.